Chapter 10: With friends like these...

For disclaimer and author notes please see chapter 1.

1986-01-14 08:00 UTC, Carrows home

Hobby, transformed to look like Flint, dropped in on the Carrows. From what he remembered, both from his life as Harry and from Dobby's memories, these two were spectacularly stupid, as well as mindlessly cruel.

"Flint? What brings you here? Has your son been found?", asked Alecto. Of course everyone knew Marcus had been missing since New Year's Day.

"Sadly, no. I have my suspicions about who has him though. All I can say is it's one of us, and once I get proof, there will be hell to pay. But that is not what I am here for. I found some distressing information and I did not know whom to share it with."

Always good for some old-fashioned gossip, Alecto settled down for a long chat. Amycus joined them and sat down too.

"Well, you heard what happened last night of course?"

"Yes, who hasn't! I assume Malfoy was lying through his teeth, just between ourselves?"

"Yes indeed, he was. For the most part anyway. But I have received word - and I cannot tell you from where, since I was sworn to secrecy as to the source - that one of the released men is indeed not loyal to our Lord."

"Really? Who?", said Amycus.

"Rookwood. Apparently unspeakable oaths are very strong, and take priority over all other loyalties. They also override all oaths taken before or after, basically allow you to make oaths that you don't mean. He has never been loyal to our Lord."

"Oh my God that's terrible. How much of our organisation has been compromised because of him? And what is to be done now?"

"For the first question, no one really knows. As for the second, there is vague talk that someone should visit him in Mungo's while he is still recovering, and finish him off. However, everyone who was in the meetings and other events yesterday is being watched and is subject to investigation. I wish someone could do that on the quiet...", said Flint.

Amycus was used to this. A hint would be dropped, without any explicit request. The job would get done, somehow. Some cash would be made available at some point after that. Care would be taken not to create a link between those three activities. Nothing was ever said that could lead to a compromising answer, even in a veritaserum investigation, unless the investigator asked a very specific, precisely worded, question.

Alecto nodded. "Indeed, Flint, indeed. It would be nice if someone were to do something".

"Oh well, it was nice to get it off my chest. I have to go back now."

"Goodbye Flint! I hope you find your son soon!"

1986-01-14 09:00 UTC, St. Mungo's

It turned out to be very easy to get into Rookwood's room. Not surprising, of course, because Hobby was bluffing about all of them being watched.

When Amycus and Alecto walked in, there was no one in that room. They quickly put up a silencing charm at the door, and simultaneously shot killing curses at Rookwood, from point blank range.

Unfortunately, while it was true that no one was specially being watched, there was an automatic lockdown on any ward where an unforgivable was detected. Actually, Alecto knew this; she just remembered two seconds too late - after the lockdown went into effect and an alarm ward had also tripped, pinpointing the location of the unforgivable with its annoying hooting.

If only they had used a reducto or something... oh well, nothing for it but to fight it out.

Within a few seconds there were four aurors in front of the door, and the lockdown was manually countermanded. One of the aurors shouted into the door: "Carrows, please throw your wands out before you, then come out with your hands clearly visible and away from any pockets or sleeves".

So they knew who they were and how many. For the first time, Alecto wondered if they were too quick to jump onto this job.

They threw their primary wands out, then walked out. Alecto went first, with hands out as prescribed. Amycus followed close behind her, holding a wand in the hand that was behind Alecto. It could only be seen from the side, which could only happen once they exited the doorway.

Unfortunately, Moody was one of the four aurors, and he was on the side that gave him a clear view of the extra wand. Through the wall of course. So Moody kept his wand pointed where it would emerge from the room, and fired a diffindo straight at Amycus's wrist, following it up almost immediately with another. Alecto, shocked by Moody's spell, flinched, then ducked. Instinctively, Amycus ducked also.

That would have been perfect for a spell coming from in front, of which there were none. However, his neck, due to his ducking forward, was now in the spot where his wrist was a second ago.

Alecto saw her brother almost beheaded, right behind her. She grabbed her own spare wand, hidden in her sleeve, and fired at the nearest auror. A few more shots here and there, and it was all over - one death-eater dead, one severely wounded but not critical, and two aurors with moderate injuries. All in all, a good day for the good guys.

1986-01-17 10:00 UTC, Flint "manor"

It had been three days since the momentous events that shook up the wizarding world's upper echelons, and the balance of light and dark. Three days during which everyone laid low, just in case. No one wanted to take a chance that things would get worse somehow.

At a time when they should have been celebrating the release of all their comrades, the death-eaters were scared witless by the burning down of the six manors, and by how close the residents themselves had come to being killed. Worse, they were especially confused about why the Carrows had killed Rookwood. Alecto was being held incommunicado, and their spies in the ministry seemed not to be able to get any information out.

Flint's son had still not been found. He had pretty much given up on the 'Phantom' finding him - the Phantom had set fire to all the manors he had named, plus the one he had not named: Malfoy Manor.

As Flint was thinking about where his son might be, and what this Phantom might know about him, Malfoy walked in, his expression a mix of anger and confusion. Nott and Macnair were with him.

Malfoy had received an anonymous note that his mudblood prisoner had been rescued by someone who was working with the Phantom, because she was deemed too beautiful to kill. He knew exactly who that was; in fact there was only one person who even knew about that specific mudblood in his former home's dungeons. Collecting Nott and Macnair for backup, in case the so-called Phantom was around, he decided to confront Flint. He knew Macnair was Marcus's godfather, but he disregarded that; this had nothing to do with the missing boy.

Unbeknownst to him, Nott and Macnair had received separate notes, asking them to think for once, instead of blindly following someone else. Think about who else had access to all these homes, each heavily warded against enemies, and considered impossible to get into. Think about who would want the second most powerful death-eater - Rookwood - out of the way, who would benefit. Food for thought.

Malfoy's accusations against Flint, who was never known for being very smart, but was definitely loyal to the Dark Lord, did not sit well with Nott or Macnair, but neither showed any sign of it. Like good Slytherins, they decided to play along and see what happened.

Back to Flint "manor":

"Good mor-"

"Cut the crap, Flint. Why did you do it?"

"Do what, Malfoy?"

"How do you know the Phantom? Why are you working with him?"

"What? I never-"

"Flint, I should have guessed when you fainted that day. I thought it was shock at the overall situation, but you actually fainted when the signature on that note was read out, right? The 'Phantom' is what made you faint".

"Malfoy, I have no clue what you are talking about. I will take an oath if you wish."

"Forget the oaths, let's go to your dungeon."

"What? You know I've stopped doing that, since I cannot control my temper and my prisoners die too fast!"

"Nevertheless, that is what we will do. Right now!"

Flint hesitated. He really had no clue what was going on, and he was uncomfortable with what seemed like a three-against-one situation, although Macnair was his cousin and Marcus's godfather so that would help. He quickly held his wand up, and intoned, "I swear on my magic that I have never knowingly betrayed our cause or our Lord. So I swear, so it is!"

Macnair looked impassive, but Nott seemed pleased. No one noticed that the oath did not preclude working with the Phantom before he turned out to be against their cause. Malfoy looked annoyed at being side-tracked. "Enough! To your dungeons, NOW!".

At the end of the stairs, Flint opened the door dramatically and stepped aside, waving his friends in with a flourish, like a major domo ushering in VIP guests into the dining room. Unfortunately, his "manor" being what it was, his dungeons were also quite small and cramped for four people. So Malfoy stepped half a pace back, shoved Flint in, and walked in after him.

Flint was staring goggle-eyed at the girl, still stunned, lying on the floor. She had been there for three days with no food or drink, and looked it.

"YOU TRAITOROUS BASTARD! So you DID steal her from my dungeons before my manor was burnt down! If that does not prove you are in cahoots with this 'Phantom', I don't know what does!, screamed Malfoy in an absolute rage.

Nott stepped away from him and Macnair, and coolly said, "Malfoy, very few people have unrestricted access to all our manors, by which to get the women and kids and even elves out. You are actually the only one with access to all of them - I checked. I am wondering if you transported this girl here yourself at some point, and if so, why? Besides, Flint has taken a magical oath!"

Malfoy was aghast. Well, two can play the oath game. "I swear on my magic I did not bring this girl here and until this morning I thought she was freed along with the ones in the other dungeons. So I swear, so it is!"

But his anger was not abated. He turned to the girl and let out his frustration on her. "CRUCIO!", he screamed, and held it for a good thirty seconds, the screams of the girl slowly relaxing him and bringing his temper down.

When he had calmed down, he said, "You know, Flint, maybe her accidental magic did something to move her here when my manor burned down. If so, her magic is very powerful indeed. I can see no other explanation, however; do you?"

Due to the two magical oaths from the principals, everyone had calmed down somewhat (not to mention crucio-ing someone being such a relaxing thing for Malfoy). Saner heads tried to find any other explanation, but could not.

"Kill the bitch!", said Nott.

"No!", it was amusing to hear three voices raised against that. Looks like Emily had picked up yet another, shall we say... "admirer"? Disgusting people!

Malfoy, as usual, had a solution. "Strip her magic from her! It's a simple ritual, only needs a wee bit of her own blood, not enough to damage her physically in any way. She has to be willing to lose her magic of course, but I think she will agree - we have tortured her enough that a promise of being treated well will suffice. After all the trouble she has been, it would be silly of us to throw her aside before using her properly."

The others having agreed, Malfoy prepared a small ritual circle right there, cramped as it was, drew some blood from the girl's finger into a vial, then woke her up and hit her with a silencing spell.

"Do you recognise this wand?"

For some reason she was staring at Flint. She looked to Malfoy, nodded, and then switched to Flint again.

"Do you want to be treated nicely? No more pain? Good food? Nice bed?"

Turn. Nod. Turn back to Flint. Pleading looks, as if she was trying to tell Flint something.

"You will be treated nicely if you agree to lose your magic. Do you agree?"

This time she stared at Flint more than before. She tried to open her mouth to say something, but the silencing spell was strong. She had tears in her eyes, and was still looking at Flint.

"Cru-", started Malfoy. She turn to him and nodded violently.

"You agree to lose your magic in order to be treated nicely?"

Nod.

Malfoy levitated her into the ritual circle, placed a few drops of her blood at specific points on the circle, and chanted something.

A bright flash of light, and her magic was gone.

Along with the blue glow from the ring on Flint's hand.